A Connecticut gun manufacturer is moving to South Carolina after Connecticut lawmakers passed stricter gun-control laws in the aftermath of the fatal Sandy Hook School shootings.

PTR Industries will make the formal announcement next week at a ribbon-cutting to be attended by South Carolina Republican Gov. Nikki Haley, according to The Sun News of Myrtle Beach.

The company is going to Horry County, which includes Myrtle Beach, and has already approved a resolution setting out the terms of the company’s move.

County Council Chairman Mark Lazarus says he’s excited about the development.

Josh Fiorini, PTR’s chief executive officer, says the plant will employ 140 people, many of whom will relocate from Connecticut. The move will take place over three years.

The company said it had been contacted by 41 states and selected South Carolina from six finalists.

Continuing a decades-long downward trend, fewer than one-fourth of Americans have confidence in newspapers, according to a recent Gallup poll.

The percentage of Americans saying they have “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in newspapers dropped to 23 percent this year from 25 percent last year, according to a report on the poll, which was released Monday.

American confidence in newspapers reached its peak at 51 percent in 1979, and a low of 22 percent in 2008.

But newspapers don’t stand alone. Confidence in television news has also been slipping — it’s tied with newspapers this year at 23 percent, which is slightly up from last year’s all-time low of 21 percent. Newspapers and television news rank near the bottom of a list of 16 “societal institutions,” according to the report. The only institutions television news and newspapers beat out this year are big business, organized labor, health maintenance organizations and Congress. Americans expressed the most confidence in the military, at 76 percent, and small businesses, at 65 percent.

Gallup attributed the drop in confidence to a number of factors, including a growth in social networking websites and an online audience that left news outlets struggling to find their place.

Insurance Department

Insurance claims filed in response to a major tornado outbreak in May jumped to 70,782 Tuesday, with insurance payments reaching $561,976,781.

“These numbers are more proof of the dramatic impact the tornadoes had on our state,” said Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak. “Thousands of Oklahomans are now in the process of rebuilding their lives. Insurance can help them do that and I am glad to see that so many of the victims were insured. But the claims process can be complicated. My office is ready to assist consumers in any way possible.”

May 19^th & 20^th Tornadoes

Type of Claim                         Claims Received         Payments Made

Homeowners                           17,182                         $374,144,234

Private Auto                            21,218                           $61,427,445

Commercial Property                    993                           $18,727,906

Commercial Auto                         457                             $1,450,418

Other                                         415                               $3,216,276

May 30^th & 31^th Tornadoes

Type of Claim                         Claims Received         Payments Made

Homeowners                           16,626                         $62,945,489

Private Auto                           10,475                          $19,067,584

Commercial Property                 1,557                          $10,600,186

Commercial Auto                         306                            $1,459,668

Other                                         391                            $1,360,596

The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) will hold a series of educational forums for storm victims. The weekly forums, which begin Tuesday, allow impacted Oklahomans to ask questions and receive assistance with insurance-related issues.

OID experts will discuss various topics including; how to file a claim, what to do if your claim is denied, how to file a complaint and how to spot fraud. Attendees will also be able to ask questions about individual insurance concerns.

“Recovering From a Disaster Insurance Forums”

All events are 6:00-7:00pm

June 18^th –Shawnee, Shawnee City Hall

June 24^th – Little Axe, Little Axe High School

July 2^nd – Carney, Carney Community Center

July 9^th – Moore, Community Christian Church

July 16^th – El Reno, El Reno High School

OID consumer assistance representatives are stationed at Westmoore High School Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Help is also available by calling 1-800-522-0071.

Governor Fallin is in Paris for the huge international air show and sent this report via Facebook:

At the Oklahoma booth for the 2013 Paris Air Show. There are more than 55 companies with a presence in Oklahoma that will exhibit at the air show. Aerospace is important in Oklahoma, employing more than 143,000 citizens. Our presence at the Paris Air Show will help us retain these jobs and attract new ones. We have meetings with companies like Boeing, Rolls Royce, L-3, NORDAM, SQS Quality Systems, as well as several media interviews, to talk about the all great opportunities to invest in Oklahoma.

Hastings Wyman

Gov. Mary Fallin’s (R) approval numbers have never fallen below 58% during her term in office. In April, she had a 65% favorability rating, the second highest of any governor up for reelection next year, reports The New York Times.

“She’s stronger than goat’s milk,” says longtime Oklahoma political analyst Mike McCarville. “I don’t see a Republican challenger or even whether the Democrats can come up with a sacrificial lamb or not.” McCarville notes that she even looked strong in a Democratic poll he has seen.

“She’s in an incredibly strong position for reelection,” says former state GOP chairman Chad Alexander. “She has good relations with the legislature, where she once served, and as a result, has a record that includes tort reform, landmark worker’s compensation reform that changed it from an adversarial to an administrative system, and has cut the state income tax – all popular achievements in Oklahoma. There are no names out there to challenge her in the primary or even in the General Election.”

State Democratic Chairman Wallace Collins, however, sees some vulnerability on Fallin’s part. He notes that she has opposed building storm shelters in public schools, despite the terrible toll tornadoes have taken on the state, including school children.

“I don’t know how she could; she was more concerned about politics than saving lives… It’s a powerful campaign topic.” He also points out that after the tornadoes, “The governor said that the teachers were heroes, but she won’t raise their salaries. Our teacher pay is 49th in the nation.” Collins says he has talked to one state representative who is interested in this issue about running against Fallin, “but he was non-committal.”

Keith Gaddie, a political science professor at Oklahoma University, says that at this point, “The Democrats don’t have a candidate. But someone will run… Much of the Democratic bench got creamed in [elections in] the last few years.” He adds, “Whoever the Democrats run will get 38% of the vote.”  Gaddie adds, “The younger generation is almost all Republicans. That’s where the talent is right now.”

Discussing seemingly logical Democratic contenders, Gaddie mentions Democratic floor leader Scott Inman, but says he’s not yet term-limited and can wait until 2018. He also mentions former governor David Walters, as well as state Sen. Connie Johnson (D), an African American. “She’s full-force against all that social conservatives stand for. If she ran, “it would be a barn-burner,” says Gaddie. He also mentions state Rep. Joe Dorman (D), who is promoting school storm shelters. “We live in Tornado Alley,” Dorman said in a press release, “and this will happen again.” But none of these Democrats have given any indication that they are interested in challenging Fallin.

Beginning with her election to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1990, Fallin has steadily worked her way up the state’s political ladder, often becoming the first woman to serve in the office she won. She served both as a member of Congress, representing the 5^th District (Oklahoma City, etc.) and as lieutenant governor before her election as governor in 2010, which she won with 60% of the vote. Despite allegations of an affair with a bodyguard when she was lieutenant governor, followed by a divorce, Fallin has remained popular in this very religious state.

Fallin has a good record with social conservatives. Last month, she received praise from National Right to Life for signing three anti-abortion measures that passed the legislature, including parental notification before abortions can be performed on a minor.

And despite some criticism over school storm shelters, Fallin gets good marks for handling the recent tornadoes in the state. “She has emergency management experience,” says Gaddie, pointing out that as lieutenant governor, she dealt with the Oklahoma City bombing as well as tornadoes. “She’s good substantively and stylistically,” he says. She supported a transfer of $45 million from the state’s “rainy day” fund to provide a series of tax exemptions and other benefits for storm victims. And in the storms’ aftermath, says Gaddie, “She was very gracious when President Obama came to visit.”

As things now stand, however, don’t expect a stormy election for governor next year. Likely Republican.

Senate Media Division

Senator Bryce Marlatt is being honored for his efforts to promote and encourage investment in the state’s oil and gas industry.  Marlatt was named “Legislator of the Year” by the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association (OIPA) during the organization’s annual meeting.

Marlatt, R-Woodward, is in his second term after being reelected to his Senate District 27 seat last fall with 84.5 percent of the vote, the largest win in any legislative or congressional race in Oklahoma’s 2012 general election.  He’s been Senate Majority Caucus Chair since 2011 and serves in other key positions, including Chairman of the Subcommittee on General Government and Transportation as well as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee.

Marlatt is a member of OIPA and works for Power Rig, LLC and is co-owner in Mid-Continent Conductor Services, LLC in Woodward.  His family, including wife Tatum and children Kade, Kole, Kloey and Ava Kate, make their home in Woodward.

“Oklahoma has 77 counties, and 72 of them have oil or gas production.  Statewide, the energy industry is directly responsible for one in six jobs.  It’s certainly a vital part of Western Oklahoma’s economy,” Marlatt said.  “I have great respect for the OIPA and for the work they do on behalf of producers and service companies throughout Oklahoma.  I’m honored to receive this award, and I look forward to continuing to work beside the OIPA on behalf of the energy industry.”

Founded in 1955, the OIPA is the state’s largest oil and gas advocacy group, representing more than 2,500 members in the crude oil and natural gas exploration and production industry and affiliated businesses.

“Senator Marlatt understands the importance of a vibrant energy sector,” said OIPA Vice President of Governmental Affairs Jeff Wilson.  “This award reflects his constant support for Oklahoma’s oil and natural gas industry in the Legislature”